The arraignment of 17 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect was stalled yesterday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, because five of them had no lawyers to represent them, a court official who did not want to be named, said.
It was learnt that the presiding judge, Justice Musa Kurya, adjourned the matter to enable the five get legal representation.
The suspects were charged with eight counts of belonging to the proscribed organisation and for being in possession of explosives and dangerous weapons.
The accused include: Ali Modu, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Ali, Ibrahim Bukar, Mohammed A. Mohammed, Bala Haruna and Idris Ali.
The rest are: Mohammed Murtala, Kadri Mohammed, Mustapha Hassan, Abba Duguni, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, Musa Bala, Bala Daura, Faruk Haruna, Abdulaziz Zuladaini.
The charge stated that the suspects were arrested at three locations in Lagos on March 21, namely Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase 1 Housing Estate; 24 Oyegbemi Street, Ijora Oloye, Apapa and at an unnumbered bungalow on Oyegbemi Street, behind Celestial Church, Ijora Oloye.
The government said they conspired among themselves “to commit felony, to wit acts of terrorism” by having in their possession explosive substances, including three packets of explosive construction pipes and 15 detonators.
They were also allegedly in possession of 11 AK-47 riffle magazines loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition each; 200 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 rifle magazines with three rounds of live ammunition each, two suit cases containing explosives and one water container of explosives.
Also recovered from the suspects, the charge said, were one bag containing canisters, one HP laptop, five Nokia handsets and one red Volkswagen Golf car with registration number Lagos: SMK 427 AZ, allegedly meant to transport the explosives.
The alleged offence is contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 and punishable under Section 17 (b) of the same Act.
In another count, it was stated that Ibrahim Bukar and Kadri Mohammed, on the same day, “knowingly entered into an arrangement as a result of which money is to be made available for the purpose of terrorism for a proscribed organisation to wit: Boko Haram sect.”
The government said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 13 (2) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013 and punishable under same Act.
According to the fifth count, the accused were arrested by a team of security agents for being members of a proscribed organisation, the Boko Haram sect, said to be contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013 and punishable under the same 2 (3) (1) read in conjunction with Section 33 (1) (b) of the Act as amended.
The accused also allegedly had in their possession prohibited firearms without a licence, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section.
Journalists were barred from covering proceedings.
As proceedings were to begin, an SSS official asked everyone who was not a lawyer to leave the courtroom.
The suspects were brought to the court at about 9.45am by a combined team of riot policemen and Department of State Security Services (DSS) officials who were armed with sophisticated weapons. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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